Hana wo Meshimase
Please Love Flowers

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On paper, the plot doesn't really bring anything new to the table. It's the same May-December dynamic you've probably read elsewhere.

The execution, though, is better than expected in terms of average shoujo manga. The heroine, refreshingly, doesn't come from the "crybaby but works hard so she's lovable" block. One chapter briefly touches on her spotty past, but it makes a great jump-off point to the story's theme of second chances and redemption. She is also surprisingly pragmatic, despite being a teenage girl in love.

The male protagonist doesn't come off as icky to me. His transition from mentor to friend to "something more, maybe" felt natural ... and unforced. His previous relationship hangups didn't feel like a big deal enough to be treated as a conflict, but otherwise, I liked how he was depicted.

The flower motif tied very well with the lessons the manga wanted to impart. Plus, I learned a lot of nifty things about being a florist! Good research and integration into the plot.

After finishing the manga, I felt quite fulfilled. The ending was not solely about how her love story turned out, but also how she and the other people around her changed over time.

Though the brief of this manga isn't something that would pique interest but the story holds a lot more. The story moves at the right pace with the character development and the pleasantness of the flowers got me engrossed with this manga. The story isn't dragged on with the emotions so it was perfect in terms of the balance and I was able to learn something from it in terms of values which is essential for me as a reader.
The characters are not very loud and gaudy and at the same time not delicate and sentimental, especially the girl who is able to bounce ... back from a tragic past and is able to move on. For those who love flowers and have deep thoughts in terms of relating things, its a must read.